The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is planning to issue a supplementary document to its 2022 Regulations and Guidelines, aimed at clarifying procedures for reviewing election results, particularly under Section 65 of the Electoral Act. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.
The commission is preparing for a packed electoral calendar, which includes five major elections within the next 13 months. These include by-elections in 12 states on August 16, 2025; the Anambra State governorship election on November 8, 2025; Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on February 21, 2026; the Ekiti governorship election on June 20, 2026; and the Osun governorship election on August 8, 2026.
According to Yakubu, the commission is concerned about the various interpretations given to the provision of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 on the review of election results. To address this, INEC is working on a supplement to the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022, which will provide clarity on the review of declaration and return at elections.
The INEC chairman emphasized the importance of the RECs’ role in ensuring the success of Nigeria’s elections, noting that their duties are ongoing responsibilities rather than activities limited to general elections. He stressed the need for consistent commitment at the state level and reminded the RECs that responsibility for effective logistics, voter engagement, and implementation of electoral reforms lies with them.
Yakubu also announced that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume nationwide on August 18 for online pre-registration and on August 25 for in-person registration. However, in Anambra State, where a gubernatorial election is due in November, the CVR will begin next week and will take place simultaneously in all 326 wards.
The meeting, which was held at INEC’s Abuja headquarters, welcomed two new National Commissioners, Profs. Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf, as well as six recently sworn-in RECs. Four of the new RECs attended the consultative meeting for the first time.
The INEC chairman encouraged the RECs to intensify their efforts in implementing electoral reforms and improving electoral service delivery to Nigerians. He emphasized that the commission’s role is a multi-stakeholder responsibility and that INEC must play its part more effectively.
